Happiness

 a picture in Wisconsin that my Mom took recently I am awake- still in the throes of a serious headache on this early Monday morning. Ah, well. I can use this time to write. On Train Track Switching.  When we first started on the foster-to-adopt track, a long while ago, we would often be told that now we would find ourselves pregnant. Stories would be told. Things rehashed. So much so that I began to expect it. I would buy things for the baby- wondering if it would end up being for a foster baby or for one that we had ourselves.  When we started taking the required 33 hours of foster care classes and I didn't particularly feel like leaving my children for 2 hours and sitting in a classroom every Monday night, I began to wonder "Is the whole train going to switch tracks this week? Are we going to find ourselves pregnant and not ever have to come here again?" I would even pray before almost every class: "Heavenly Father, do I really have to go to class ag...

 Going Forward (also headed North) We signed the final paperwork for foster care this week. I thought that it would be a bigger deal for me: finally signing and finishing all of the work on our part after this long while. But it wasn't. I signed, Josh signed and we were done. The papers were combined with several others, placed on top, and placed in a large, frayed manila file folder. Our case worker said that he would finish the work for a few more families and then he would get to us. He apologized that it was taking so long, explained that these foster kids need good families but that it is such a long process (why?! makes me want to go to law school and simplify it!).  I am grateful. I am grateful that this application process is drawing to a close. I am grateful that we are one step closer to be licensed as foster care Parents. And I am grateful that I get to finish off the summer with these kiddos. It's been a little stressful (although fun) going back to scho...

Ok. I've been blogging a bit, but I have one more post and then I'll be done for a little while.  Some people have asked me how the fostering is coming along. We are so close. It's been hard not talk about it all the time, because I usually want to blog about everything, but I have been checking with Josh first and he tends to be a bit more reserved than I. We had our home inspection by the OLRC the Thursday before we left on our trip (the 6th). I was super nervous, but everything went really well. The lady was nice and really thorough. There was a long list of things we needed to have done. We passed on everything except for a few things- 3 fire alarms needed new batteries, our pool gate needed to be self closing (just a twist of the wrench) and one new medicine in the fridge needed to be locked up. We have one final interview left, that includes interviews with the kids and the signing of paperwork. We had it scheduled for this past Tuesday (18th) and I was so look...